Photo of a country open plan dining in Austin with brown walls, grey floor, vaulted, wood and wood walls.

This dining room is the perfect combination of organic vibes and modern vibes combined. The warm wood floors, raw brick ceiling, and exposed beams are just a few things we love about this space.

Cedar Island Residence

Scott Edwards Architecture

This is an example of a midcentury open plan dining in Portland with white walls, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and wood.

Damariscotta River View

Whitten Architects

Design ideas for a beach style dining room in Portland Maine with white walls, light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, beige floor and vaulted.

Statement Custom Home

Will Steed Homes, Inc.

Large country open plan dining in Dallas with white walls, brown floor, wood and brick walls.

Life On Longview

Delphinium Design

Dining room buffet table in Charlotte, NC complete with wood dining table and fabric and wood dining room chairs, wall art and custom window treatments.

210 Monterra

ALTER Design Studio

Bright and airy sophisticated dining room
Mid-sized contemporary open plan dining in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace surround and vaulted.

Highland Home, Austin Tx

Architecture By George

Transitional open plan dining in Austin with white walls, grey floor and vaulted.

Un loft baigné de lumière – Projet Saint-Pierre

Mon Concept Habitation

Direction Bordeaux pour découvrir un projet d’exception particulièrement atypique : un loft de 120m2 aux volumes incroyables, situé à proximité de la place du Palais, partiellement rénové par notre équipe bordelaise. Que dire de ses volumes, de sa hauteur sous plafond et de son incroyable luminosité apportée par son toit en verre, ses grandes fenêtres et sa verrière ? L’appartement baigne dans un puit de lumière.

A Warm Welcome

TKS Design Group

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowner and his wife had lived in this beautiful townhome in Oak Brook overlooking a small lake for over 13 years. The home is open and airy with vaulted ceilings and full of mementos from world adventures through the years, including to Cambodia, home of their much-adored sponsored daughter. The home, full of love and memories was host to a growing extended family of children and grandchildren. This was THE place. When the homeowner’s wife passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, he became determined to create a space that would continue to welcome and host his family and the many wonderful family memories that lay ahead but with an eye towards functionality. We started out by evaluating how the space would be used. Cooking and watching sports were key factors. So, we shuffled the current dining table into a rarely used living room whereby enlarging the kitchen. The kitchen now houses two large islands – one for prep and the other for seating and buffet space. We removed the wall between kitchen and family room to encourage interaction during family gatherings and of course a clear view to the game on TV. We also removed a dropped ceiling in the kitchen, and wow, what a difference. Next, we added some drama with a large arch between kitchen and dining room creating a stunning architectural feature between those two spaces. This arch echoes the shape of the large arch at the front door of the townhome, providing drama and significance to the space. The kitchen itself is large but does not have much wall space, which is a common challenge when removing walls. We added a bit more by resizing the double French doors to a balcony at the side of the house which is now just a single door. This gave more breathing room to the range wall and large stone hood but still provides access and light. We chose a neutral pallet of black, white, and white oak, with punches of blue at the counter stools in the kitchen. The cabinetry features a white shaker door at the perimeter for a crisp outline. Countertops and custom hood are black Caesarstone, and the islands are a soft white oak adding contrast and warmth. Two large built ins between the kitchen and dining room function as pantry space as well as area to display flowers or seasonal decorations. We repeated the blue in the dining room where we added a fresh coat of paint to the existing built ins, along with painted wainscot paneling. Above the wainscot is a neutral grass cloth wallpaper which provides a lovely backdrop for a wall of important mementos and artifacts. The dining room table and chairs were refinished and re-upholstered, and a new rug and window treatments complete the space. The room now feels ready to host more formal gatherings or can function as a quiet spot to enjoy a cup of morning coffee.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Design ideas for a large midcentury open plan dining in Austin with light hardwood floors, a two-sided fireplace, a brick fireplace surround and wood.

Stunning Mid-Century Remodel

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

The dining room and outdoor patio are natural extensions of this open kitchen. Laying the tile flooring on a diagonal creates movement and interest.
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury kitchen/dining combo in San Francisco with white walls, porcelain floors, grey floor and vaulted.

夏見台の家

株式会社持井工務店

Inspiration for an eclectic dining room in Other with white walls, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and vaulted.

Modern Northwoods Residence Great Room & Balcony

Amy Carman Design

A wall of steel and glass allows panoramic views of the lake at our Modern Northwoods Cabin project.
Design ideas for a large contemporary dining room in Other with black walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, brown floor, vaulted and panelled walls.

Hill Country Modern

Dick Clark + Associates

Country dining room in Austin with white walls, beige floor, exposed beam and vaulted.

Modern Farmhouse

Lifestyle by Stadler Custom Homes

Photo of a mid-sized country open plan dining in Austin with white walls, dark hardwood floors, a hanging fireplace, a metal fireplace surround, brown floor and vaulted.

St. Joseph Beach Residence

Accoya Wood

This is an example of a contemporary open plan dining in Chicago with white walls, medium hardwood floors, no fireplace, brown floor and wood.

Sullivan's Island Remodel

St. Pierre Construction

Dining room featuring light white oak flooring, custom built-in bench for additional seating, horizontal shiplap walls, and a mushroom board ceiling.

Organic Modern, Cordillera Ranch

NR Interiors

We furnished this open concept Breakfast Nook with built-in cushioned bench with round stools to prop up feet and accommodate extra guests at the end of the table. The pair of leather chairs across from the wall of windows at the Quartzite top table provide a comfortable easy-care leather seat facing the serene view. Above the table is a custom light commissioned by the architect Lake Flato.

Lynn Valley Modern Home

Simply Home Decorating

This 1990's home, located in North Vancouver's Lynn Valley neighbourhood, had high ceilings and a great open plan layout but the decor was straight out of the 90's complete with sponge painted walls in dark earth tones. The owners, a young professional couple, enlisted our help to take it from dated and dreary to modern and bright. We started by removing details like chair rails and crown mouldings, that did not suit the modern architectural lines of the home. We replaced the heavily worn wood floors with a new high end, light coloured, wood-look laminate that will withstand the wear and tear from their two energetic golden retrievers. Since the main living space is completely open plan it was important that we work with simple consistent finishes for a clean modern look. The all white kitchen features flat doors with minimal hardware and a solid surface marble-look countertop and backsplash. We modernized all of the lighting and updated the bathrooms and master bedroom as well. The only departure from our clean modern scheme is found in the dressing room where the client was looking for a more dressed up feminine feel but we kept a thread of grey consistent even in this more vivid colour scheme. This transformation, featuring the clients' gorgeous original artwork and new custom designed furnishings is admittedly one of our favourite projects to date!

Dining Room Design Ideas with Vaulted and Wood

A dining room can be used for casual dining, integrated into an open plan and connected to the living and kitchen areas; or as a formal space reserved solely for entertaining. While it may not be used frequently, it is a great focal point in the home, and requires little furnishings. Here's what you need to consider before you start planning a new dining room...

How will you use your dining room?

First, consider how frequently you will use the space. If you plan on using your dining room on a daily basis, a casual dining set-up with sturdy, long-lasting furniture is best. As for where you position it – well, any unused space in the home can be converted into a casual dining space, whether it be at the end of a kitchen island, or at the bottom of the stairs. A formal dining room, on the other hand, is more suited to a dedicated space, which is more common in heritage homes where space originally wasn’t at a premium. Perhaps you want your dining room to multi-task and accommodate everyday meals, homework sessions and grown-up dinner parties… If that’s the case, furniture is key. Look for versatile dining tables in either Australian or New Zealand hardwood or weathered timber for a more rustic look. These won’t show up sticky fingerprints as much and can be dressed up for guests.

What size and shape should your dining table be?

Your dining table should be able to seat all family members with some room for additional guests – each person should have at least 60 centimetres of space at the table. The right size, however, also depends on how much room you have. A general rule of thumb is to leave no less than 1 metre from the dining table to the wall or any additional furniture, so people have enough room to comfortably move around the space. Rectangular dining tables are versatile and can work in a variety of settings, while oval dining tables are more traditional and can turn any meal into an occasion. If you have a tight space to work in, a round dining table is best, and also a great option if you want to encourage conversation. A square dining table can be a dramatic addition to a dining room, but only if you have the space. It allows everyone at the table to see each other, but the bigger the table, the harder it will be able to hold a conversation with someone at the other end.

What type of dining chairs should you choose?

Once you’ve decided on a dining table, look for dining chairs that share a common design element. If your dining table legs are curved, for example, try to match them with dining chairs that have a similar curve, either in the legs or back. Next, consider the dimensions of the chair. The height of your dining chairs should allow at least 30 centimetres between the top of the seat and the top of the table. And to keep your tush happy, avoid dining chairs narrower than 45 centimetres.

How can you decorate your dining room?

Dining rooms are relatively minimal spaces, but that makes them a great place to splash a little colour through artwork, especially if yours is a formal dining room. If your dining room is lacking warmth, consider painting the walls a deep shade of red or blue, or go contemporary with black or grey. A cosy rug will make the space feel more intimate, while a sideboard or cabinet of curiosities will further personalise the space. Often overlooked, dining room lighting can also drastically alter the mood of a room, creating drama, spurring romance or encouraging conversation. Opt for soft lighting in the dining area with dimmer switches, and choose oversized pendants in large, open spaces or to make the dining area more of a focal point. Finally, add some table settings, such as a lace tablecloth for a whimsy feel, or a more basic table runner for a chic look. If you need some help designing your dining room, consider checking the Houzz directory of interior designers, home stylists, cabinet makers and more!